Lt. Col. Eric Schultz was flying an unspecified aircraft at about 6 p.m. over the Nevada Test and Training Range, approximately 100 miles northwest of Nellis Air Force Base, a spokeswoman at the air base said Friday…

“Information about the type of aircraft involved is classified and not releasable,” Maj. Christina Sukach, chief of public affairs…

The tragic death of Doc and the impact on his family — his wife and five kids — has been overshadowed by the secrecy of the news report. The Aviationist speculated on the existence of US Air Force-owned Su-27s and not-so-retired F-117s, including purported photographs taken last year.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen David Goldfein went so far as to categorically say it was not an F-35, which Doc had previously flown.

While the information might have given some amount of closure, it probably doesn’t matter as much to his family. They just know a husband and father isn’t coming home.